Dry-cleaning apparatus



Feb; 2, 1932, E. R. wELLEs ET AL.

DRY CLEANING APPARATUS Filed June 9, 1928 hum.

IHN@ n www Nm TR N ATTORNEY Patented Feb. 2, 1932 UNITED 4STATES PATENT OFFICE EDWARD R. WELLES, OF BROOKLYN, AND FREDRIK W. DE JAHN, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNORS TO PUBLIC INDUSTRIALS CORPORATION, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

DRY-CLEANING APPARATUS Application led .Tune 9,

rlhis invention relates to dry-cleaning apparatus of the type comprising a machine, means for withdrawing air and vapors from the machine to create and maintain a partial 5 vacuum therein, and means for supplying solvent to the material carried in the machine.

One object of this invention is to provide means whereby vapors from the cleaning solvent are prevented from escaping to the atmosphere.

A further object of the invention is to provide an absorption system embodied in the apparatus for reclaiming the solvent from the vapors exhausted from the machine.

Further objects will be apparent from the particular description of the complete apparatus and from the appended claims.

The present invention consists in the novel construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter described, illustrated in the accompanying drawing and particularly pointed out in the appended claims, it being understood that various changes in the form and details of construction maybe made' Without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of our invention.

rlhe apparatus is shown diagrammatically in the drawing.

Referring to the drawing, solvent is supplied through pipe line 10 and valve 11 to a tank -12 which `communicates by a pipe line 13 having a valve 14 and a sight glass 15 and by a pipe line 16 having a valve 17 with a pipe or chamber 18 in which a vacuum is created by means of a vacuum pump 19 which communicates with said chamber 18 through pipe line 20, vacuum condenser 21, pipe line 22, gas and liquid separator 23 and pipe li-ne 24. The solvent'in the separator 23 4is drained into the said chamber 18 through a pipe line 25 having a check valve 26 for the purpose of preventing the vapors from reaching the 4pump 19- without first passing through the condenser 21. The chamber y18 also communicates byv means of a line v27l and valve 28 with the upper part of a c'atchall or receiving tank29 having a straining screen 30 andan outlet pipe line 31 and valve `32-` 1923. Serial No. 284,202.

forthe deliveryof solvent to any suitable storage tank.

The cleaning machine 33 is supplied with benzine or other solvent through a pipe line 34 and overhead spray pipe 35. The line 34 has a valve 36 and is supplied with solvent from the line 13. A vacuum pipe line 37 having a valve 38 leads from the upper part of the machine 33 to the said chamber 18 so that air and gases are exhausted from the machine and the solvent is drawn in through the said spray pipe 35, line 34, valve 36, line 13 sight glass 15 and valve 14 from the tank 12. By closing the valve 36 and opening the valve 17 unsatisfactory solvent observed through the glass 15 may be byepassed through line 16 to the chamber `18, and when the solvent is deemed suitable for use in the machine valve 17 is closed and valve 36 is opened and solvent flows into the machine. Valve 36 is closed when the desired quantity of solvent-4 as shown by the sight gage 39-has been received in the machine. The machine also communicates with the chamber 18 by means of a drain pipe line 40 having a valve 41 and a solvent straining chamber 9; and after completion of the washing operation or during the spraying operation the valve 41 is opened to permit the Idirty solvent to drain by gravity into the chamber 18. Rinsing solvent may fthen be supplied to the machine by closingl the valve 41 and opening the valve 36, anafter closing of the valve 36 and completion of the rinsing operation the rinsing solvent may be drained from the machine by opening valve 4'1 as before.

The second or extracting operation then takes place and finally the drying operation is effected, and during the extracting and the drying operations the valves 41 and 38 remain open so that all solvents and vapors pass to the chamber 18. When loading and unloading the machine valves 36, 41 and 38 are closed and a vent valve 42 in a connection 43 is opened to permit atmospheric air to enter the machine and .destroy the vacuum. During the-drying-operation steam is supplied to the machine through' a steam pipev 44and control valve 45 from a-steam line-46.-

From the vacuum pump 19 hereinbefore ,35 supplied by the steam and the resultant mixreferred to the vapors pass through a pipe line 47 to a pre-cooler 48 where they are cooled to approximately 90 lF., and from the precoolei' 48 the cooled vapors are conducted by a pipe line 49 to an absorber 50-through valve 51 or to an absorber 52 through valve 53. A. rotary air pump 54 supplies air to the f pipe line 49 to reduce the vapor mixture to the desired proportions-about one per cent by volume. rlhe absorbers 50, 52 each contains a bed of activated carbon but if so desired oil may be used in these absorbers instead o carbon without any change except in the interior of the absorbers. When the valve 51 is open and the valve 53 is closed the vapor mixture passes upwards through the activated carbon contained in the absorber and the benzine content is absorbed by the carbon while the air in the mixture passes through the pipe 55 and valve 56 to the atmosphere, and after an interval sucient to allow complete saturation of the carbon, valve 53 leading to the absorber 52 and a valve 57 leading from said absorber to the exhaust pipe 55 are both opened and valves 51, 56 of absorber 50 are closed so that the vapor mixture is passed through the absorber 52 and the benzine content is absorbed therein in the same manner. When the absorption operation in absorber 50 is thus discontinued a steam valve 58 is opened in a steam supply pipe 59 lwhich is shown connnected with the s/team pipe 46 referred to above, and the benzine vapors absorbed by the activated carbon in the absorber 50 are distilled olfby the heat ture of benzine and waterv vapors passes through valve 60 and through pipe lines 61 and 62 to a surface condenser 63 where the vapors are condensed and from whence the liquid lowsthrough pipe line 64 to a benzine separator 65 in which the benzineis separated from the water. From the separator 65 water is drawn ori' through pipe line 66 and the benzine is drawn oil through the separate pipe line 67 and may be conducted thereby to any suitable storage tank or receptacle for `y`further use in the machine.

A. known interval of time-depending upon. the proportions of the absorbers 50, 52-is required for the activated carbon in one of them to become saturated, and while one absorber is in process of absorbing there 1s a like interval available Ator the distilling o and cooling and drying of the carbon contained in the other absorber. After the benzlne (or other solvent) vapors have'been distilled oli it may be necessary to cool and dry the activiated carbon and for this purpose an air cooler 68 is provided with pipe lines 69, 70, 71, 72 and control valves 7 3, 74, 75, 76. About half of theinterval allowed for reconditioning the carbon may be consumed in the distilling processand during the remaining half of this interval the abneaaeav sorber-in this case absorber 50is put into communication with the air cooler 68 by opening the valve 75 and at the same time valve 74 communicating with the upper part of absorber 52 is opened. As the absorber 52 is at this time in process of absorption air is passing from the carbon through the valve 57 and pipe 55 to atmosphere, but the valve 57 is closed after the opening of the valve 74 and the air from the absorber is passed through the air cooler and will pass upwardly through the activated carbon bed in the absorber 50 and finally through the valve 56 and pipe line 55 to atmosphere.

The process of distilling on', cooling and drying the carbon in the absorber 52 is similar to that described in connection with the absorber 50.I Steam is supplied at the proper time to the absorber 52 through a valve 77 in a pipe line 78 supplied with steam from line 59, and the benzine and water vapors are conducted at this time from the lower part of the absorber 52 through valve 79 and a pipe line 80 and thence by line 62 Ato the con-v denser 63. The process of cooling and drying the carbon in the absorber 52 will also be clearly understood from the foregoing description of this operation in the case of absorber 50. c

The solvent from the catchall or tank 29 and from the pipe line 67 may be received or stored in suitable underground tanks or elsewhere and the entire system is completely closed except through its communication with the atmosphere through the said pipe 55,so that no vapors may'escape directly to the atmosphere. The supply tank 12 may also be connected with suitable supply means or with storage tanks or receptacles and suitable vent means may be provided for the admission of air to replace solvent withdrawn from the tank 12 or elsewhere in the operation of the apparatus.

Although the above description and the accompanying drawing describe` andillus4 'tratea practical embodiment of our invention, we do not desire to be limited to the details of this disclosure, for,in the practical application of our invention, many changes may be made in form, construction and operation, as circumstances may require lll@ or experience may suggest, without depart- .4

ing from the spirit of this invention within the scope of the appended claims.

We claim:

" 1. ln a dry-cleaning apparatus, a cleaning j machine, a vacuum chamber arranged below the level of the cleaning machine, gas and liquid connections between the cleaning machine and said chamber, means for withdrawing air and vapors Afrom the chamber to create and maintain a partial vacuum receiving the withdrawn vapors comprising an absorber and a separator.

2. In a dry-cleaning apparatus, a cleaning machine, a vacuum chamber' arranged below the level of the cleaning machine, gas and liquid connections between the cleaning machine and said chamber, means for with Hdrawing air and vapors from the chamber to create andmaintain a partial vacuum therein, means for supplying cleaning solvent to the cleaning machine, and means for receiving the withdrawn vapors comprising a vacuum condenser, an absorber and ay separator.

3. In a dry-cleaning apparatus, a cleaning machine, a. vacuum chamber arranged below the level of the cleaning machine, gas and liquid connections between the cleaning machine and said chamber, means Jfor withdrawing air and vapors from the chamber to create and maintain a partial vacuum therein, means for supplying cleaning solvent to the cleaning machine, and means for receiving the withdrawn vapors comprising a pre-cooler, an absorber and a separator.

4. In a dry-cleaning apparatus, a cleaning machine, a vacuum chamber arranged below the level of the cleaning machine, gas and liquid connections between the cleaning machine and said chamber, means for withdrawing air and vapors from the chamber to create and maintain a partial vacuum therein, an overhead spray pipe for supplying solvent to the material being cleaned in the cleaning machine, and mea-ns for receiving the vapors withdrawn from the chamber comprising an absorber', a condenser and'separating means.

5. In a dry-cleaning apparatus, a cleaning machine, a vacuum chamber arranged below the level of the cleaning machine, gas and liquid connections between the cleaning machine and said chamber, means for withdrawing air and vapors from the vchamber to create and maintain a partial vacuum therein, means comprising an overhead spray pipe for supplying cleaning solvent to the machine, and means for receiving the withdrawn vapors comprising, a vacuum condenser, a. gas and liquid separator, a precooler, absorption apparatus, and a condenser.

6. In a dry-cleaning apparatus, a cleaning machine, a vacuum chamber arranged below the level of the cleaning machine, gas and liquid connections between the cleaning Inachine and said chamber, means for Withy drawing air and vapors from the chamber to create and maintain a partial vacuum therein, means for supplying cleaning solvent to the cleaning machine, and means for receiving and reclaiming solvent from the withdrawn vapors comprising a plurality of absorbers, means for conducting the vapors to one of the absorbers, means for conductand liquid connections between the cleaning machine and said chamber, means for withdrawing air and vapors from the chamber to create and maintain a partial vacuum therein, absorption means, for receiving the vapors withdrawnfrom the chamber and for reclaiming the solvent therefrom, comprising a plurality of absorbers, means for conducting the vapors to one of the absorbers, means for supplying air under pressure to the vapors, means for conducting steam to one of the absorbers after the absorption process to distill oila the solvent content previously absorbed therein, an air cooler, means for conducting air from one of the absorbers during the absorption process and from thence through the said air cooler to another absorber to cool the same after the distilling off process, means for condensing the vapors, and means for separating the solvent from the condensed vapors.

In testimony whereof we have signed our names to this specification.

EDVARD R. WELLES. FREDRIK W. DE JAHN 

